Person Page - 345

     Jesse Theodore Underwood Jr. was born in 1922 at Suwannee, Florida, United States.¹ He was the son of Jesse Theordore Underwood and Mary Estelle Raines.¹

     Rita was born on 2 November 1966 at Miami, Dade, Florida, United States. She was the daughter of Charles Elbert Underwood and Barbara Tompkins. She died on 17 October 2009 at Gainesville, Alachua, Florida, United States, at age 42; Suwannee Democrat Newspaper - October 23, 2009
Rita Renee Underwood Merritt
November 2, 1966-
October 17, 2009
Lake Butler, October 17, 2009, Rita Renee Underwood Merritt, 42, of Lake Butler passed away peacefully at the E.T. York Haven Hospice in Gainesville Saturday afternoon after a long illness. She was born in Miami, living her early life near Lacrosse. She graduated from Santa Fe high School and attended Santa Fe Jr. college. She has lived in the New River section of Bradford County for the last 16 years. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Ervin and Willie Mae Tompkins. She is a member of the First Christian Church of Lake Butler and a 4-H Leader in Union County. She was a property manager and a substitute teacher for several years.
She is survived by her loving husband of 16 years: Randy Merritt;
Her Daughter: Miranda Renee Merritt of Lake Butler;
Her Son: Charles Tyler Knight of Lake Butler;
Stepson: Zedric Merritt (Deanna) of Lake Butler;
Grandson: Hunter Merritt;
Her Parents: Charles and Barbara Underwood of Gainesville;
Her Sister: Robyn Darlene Brewington (Richard) of High Springs;
1 Niece: Kyndal Brewington of High Springs;
Her Paternal Grandparents: J.T. and Eunice Underwood of Live Oak.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at 11:00 A.M. in the First Christian Church of Lake Butler, with Bro. Arthur Peterson and Marlyn Tompkins officiating. Burial followed in Dekle Cemetery in Lake Butler. Family received friends at the funeral home Monday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. Family request that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Pinehaven Childrens Home c/o First Christian Church 155 N.W. 1st Street Lake Butler , Fl 32054. Archer Funeral Home of lake Butler is in charge of arrangements. 386-496-2008.